ESA Support Group

likelyfran

Well, I had my first ESA 'interview' today.
I have M.E./fibro/depression/anxiety.
It was a nightmare. Woman knew nothing about my conditions and seemed to think that was ok although she was there to 'support' me she said.
I went in feeling really positive and with a plan to take up the year's permitted work that I have done before, feeling more hopeful about being able to make a go of it this time and come off benefits - ended up in tears and feeling really bullied and dispirited.
Was told that I MUST have a business plan, so needed the 'support' of meeting with business advisors (thought scares me **itless and I know for a fact that a business plan is NOT a must, especially for what I will be doing). Told this without her having any idea yet of what I was going to be doing.
Told I wasn't listening to her so we had best end the interview and I would have to do it again (on top of every 6 weeks for next 18 months appts). Was feeling very stressed and in tears by this point. My husband was there and witness to all this.
I asked her did she have information about my health conditions - she quite unashamedly said no and that I hadn't given her a chance to ask.
She then typed them in to the computer, printed me off some bumph and gave me an appt for next time for 9am - after me telling her that sleep problems are part of my problems - never mind the actual list of conditions which shouldn't need elaborating on too much. Wasn't asked was this suitable/a problem. Just given 9 am - all the while I was being told by her that she'd said nothing wrong, she'd just offered support. She said 5 or 6 times througout 'I can't see why you WOULDN'T accept the support' - again whilst knowing NOTHING about my health conditions and what actually would be support and what would not on those bases. Made me feel totally C-r@p.
Felt that she wasn't listening to ME, couldn't care less about my conditions and how they affected me although saying 'I work with people with illness and disability every day so I DO understand'.
She said on the one hand that I didn't HAVE to agree to do anything but at the same time sat there weirdly judging me - NOT HELPFUL.
Am going to make a formal complaint - not just for me but for everyone that has to put up with all this bs.
If they hadn't foisted all this on me, I would have just requested to do, got on with the yr's scheme and hopefully be off benefits at the end of it.
As it is, (and with her telling me self employment may not be for me - er, WHY? Isn't that up for me to try/judge? - and the scheme is UP to a year only, not guaranteed to last that long, idea is to get me into paid work in as short a time as possible. Pressure pressure pressure.), I'm now feeling upset, stressed and more likely to relapse/fail in my endeavour to get better - exactly the OPPOSITE of what the Gov. says it is trying to do in 'supporting' people like me!
It's bs! Good luck to anyone who gets an advisor who actually has an ounce of knowledge and who cares - it's potluck.

Saversue

Sorry you had such a bad time, especially as you wanted to work. It sounds like they didn't even look at what you had sent in regarding your health, if so what's the point?

Can I ask, how much detail you put on the original forms and how much evidence to back it up ?
Only asking because I am in the process of completing the forms at the moment.

LadyMorticia

Thank you for all of the replies and sorry for the belated response. I haven't been very well and the computer uses alot of mental energy for me sometimes.

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

have you supportive evidence that you have collected from consultants etc? if so your going to need to make photo copies and send them with the ESA50.

your going to have to make yourself very clear that you cannot self proppel and why.

your also going to have to make it very clear, that using a walking stick is N/A to you.

also DLA award notices can help ive been told as this lists some reasons why you were awarded what level and why. high care and high mobility there would be some reasons why these companants were awarded and some worded like ESA descriptors.

search google for the WCA ESA handbook revised april 2012 this will list the descriptors for wrag and support group and can aid filling in the ESA50 with a bit more understanding.

I have alot of letters from my psych and my GP. I photocopied them and sent them with the form. I also photocopied my DLA award notice as it states that I can only walk 15 metres with a walking stick and after that I need a wheelchair. I also put on the form why I can't self-propel. I also put why I believe I am eligible for the support group but I'm not sure if I should have done that. I think someone advised it on another thread on here. Alas, it is done now. Just need to wait for the dreaded decision...

System

Good luck hun.

Hope you get good news soon, i know waiting for a decision is a pretty horrible time x

LadyMorticia

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

Good luck hun.

Hope you get good news soon, i know waiting for a decision is a pretty horrible time x

Thank you hun. My letter about the migration came at a similar time to my DLA renewal form. My DLA has been renewed at the same rate as last time and I received my ESA50 about a week before I received my DLA award notice so I managed to send it with it. I hate the waiting. It's so horrible when you have to rely on the government.

Dirty_Harry_the_2nd

LadyMorticia wrote: »

Thank you hun. My letter about the migration came at a similar time to my DLA renewal form. My DLA has been renewed at the same rate as last time and I received my ESA50 about a week before I received my DLA award notice so I managed to send it with it. I hate the waiting. It's so horrible when you have to rely on the government.

Hey Annie. Hope you Sam and the bubba are well. Im really pleased Ive seen you about again.

Ive been wanting to buy some of your photography I bought some recently through your selling on fb. Are you still selling?

hxtp://m.facebook.com/AnnimousePhotography


Please pm me if you are. Respec..........

likelyfran

willber wrote: »

Every new business venture requires planning, finance and a well prepared business plan.

Obviously the jobcentre would prefer it if they could get you into a job, any job, probably paying MNW.
With the sound of what happened, you didn't put over your business idea and show a business plan that would see you off benefits within 12 months and how you were going to get there.

Probably she thought that you were not prepared for self employment.

At the end of the day their job is to get you earning an income in the short to medium term that will make claiming benefits a thing of the past.

A business advisor is a great idea. If you have a viable plan, go and see them.

As for going to a 9am appointment, you will be expected to start work at that time in any event so all she is doing is getting you ready to meet the challenges of earning an income.

Er, right.... and you know all about me and my health conditions?
A great idea? NO!
And FYI, no you DON'T need all that you say you do to register as a sole trader and sell on Ebay! Or to make a success of it!
I have been in a bad state since that interview because of the unskilful and uncaring approach of the 'adviser'.
From feeling positive and in an increasing state of readiness for work, I have now fallen apart mentally and physically and am struggling to get back to where I was!
It is precisely because of ignorant attitudes like yours that the DWP is hindering, not helping people! :mad:

likelyfran

Saversue wrote: »

Sorry you had such a bad time, especially as you wanted to work. It sounds like they didn't even look at what you had sent in regarding your health, if so what's the point?

Can I ask, how much detail you put on the original forms and how much evidence to back it up ?
Only asking because I am in the process of completing the forms at the moment.

Sorry for late reply Saversue, haven't been on here 'til today.
I put as much detail as possible on the IB50 (or whatever they're called now) forms.
Most important is to list diagnoses and when you were diagnosed.
I've 'passed' 3 of them now. This time they wrote and phoned me to say that I was still considered eligible for incapacity benefit but was expected to go to these 'interviews'.
Tbh, I don't think the DWP refer to the doctors/diagnosers as a matter of course - or take any notice of the diagnoses anyway hahaha! (Oh how we laugh!). :rotfl:
How did you get on?

LadyMorticia

Dirty_Harry_the_2nd wrote: »

Hey Annie. Hope you Sam and the bubba are well. Im really pleased Ive seen you about again.

Ive been wanting to buy some of your photography I bought some recently through your selling on fb. Are you still selling?

hxtp://m.facebook.com/AnnimousePhotography


Please pm me if you are. Respec..........

Hello. I've never sold my Photography on FB. You have my page correct, but it is merely a 'hobby' page for those who like my photography. I've never really considered selling, to be honest. Too energy consuming to do myself at home with the M.E and would need to do it with a company I trust online.

techspec

Dirty_Harry_the_2nd wrote: »

Hey Annie. Hope you Sam and the bubba are well. Im really pleased Ive seen you about again.

Ive been wanting to buy some of your photography I bought some recently through your selling on fb. Are you still selling?

hxtp://m.facebook.com/AnnimousePhotography


Please pm me if you are. Respec..........

Awkward